Auto Accidents
Representation for drivers and passengers injured in serious motor vehicle crashes caused by negligence.
Learn MoreTexas trucking accident attorneys
When 80,000 pounds of commercial freight collides with a passenger vehicle, the litigation that follows is anything but ordinary. We treat trucking cases like the complex industrial cases they are.
A different kind of auto case
A collision with an 18-wheeler is fundamentally different from an ordinary auto accident. The injuries are usually catastrophic. The defense team is on the scene within hours, building a case to defeat liability. And the web of regulations, contracts, and corporate relationships behind every commercial truck creates a litigation landscape most lawyers are not equipped to navigate.
Our firm investigates, prosecutes, and tries Texas commercial trucking cases. We handle them differently because they require it — and because the families we represent deserve a firm that will match the carrier's defense team move for move.
Cases we handle
We accept Texas trucking cases involving:
- Underride and rear-end collisions with passenger vehicles
- Rollovers and jackknife crashes from improper loading
- Driver fatigue and Hours-of-Service violations
- Brake, tire, and mechanical failures
- Drug- and alcohol-impaired commercial drivers
- Negligent hiring, training, and supervision claims against carriers
How we investigate
We immediately send a spoliation letter preserving ELD data, dashcam footage, dispatch records, driver qualification files, drug-test results, maintenance records, and the tractor and trailer themselves. We retain commercial-trucking experts, accident reconstructionists, and human-factors specialists. Our deep dive into commercial trucking liability explains who can be held responsible.
Compensation we pursue
Catastrophic trucking cases often involve large medical bills, lifetime care plans, and significant lost earning capacity. We work with life-care planners and forensic economists to quantify the full financial picture. Where conduct is egregious — willful HOS violations, doctored logs, knowing employment of unsafe drivers — we pursue exemplary damages under Texas law.
Why speed matters
ELD data can be overwritten in days. Dashcam footage rotates on a 7–30 day cycle. The tractor and trailer often go back into service within a week. Federal regulations also impose strict 12- and 24-month retention periods on certain documents. Carriers have an experienced playbook; matching it requires getting counsel involved early.
$750K
Federal minimum liability insurance for most interstate carriers
11 hrs
Maximum FMCSA driving time after 10 hours off-duty
7–30 days
Typical retention window for many dashcam systems
Frequently Asked
Common questions about trucking accidents cases
If your question isn't answered here, contact our team — every case is different, and a quick conversation costs nothing.
Who can be held liable in a Texas commercial-truck crash?
Trucking cases rarely involve a single defendant. Carriers, drivers, maintenance providers, brokers, shippers, and even component manufacturers can all share responsibility. Our breakdown of commercial-trucking liability walks through each potential defendant and the evidence that supports adding them to the case.
What federal regulations apply to commercial trucks in Texas?
Most interstate motor carriers operate under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), enforced by the FMCSA. These cover Hours-of-Service limits, electronic logging device (ELD) usage, commercial driver licensing, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle maintenance, and cargo securement. Texas also enforces parallel intrastate regulations through the DPS. Violation of these rules is often direct evidence of negligence.
Why is evidence preservation so urgent in trucking cases?
Critical electronic data — ELD logs, ECM (engine control module) downloads, dashcam footage, GPS, dispatch messages — is often retained for only days or weeks unless preserved. Once a tractor goes back into service, on-board systems overwrite. A timely spoliation letter, sent within days of the crash, is one of the most important steps a plaintiff can take. We send these letters as part of our intake process.
How are punitive damages awarded in Texas trucking cases?
Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Chapter 41 allows exemplary (punitive) damages where the plaintiff proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's conduct was grossly negligent. Falsified logbooks, knowing HOS violations, retention of drivers with disqualifying records, or dispatching impaired drivers can all support a punitive award. Caps apply, but in serious cases the additional exposure is substantial.
What is a "spoliation letter" and why does it matter?
A spoliation letter is formal written notice to a defendant that specific evidence must be preserved for litigation. In a trucking case, it identifies categories of evidence — ELD data, driver qualification files, vehicle inspection reports, dashcam footage, the tractor and trailer themselves — and warns that destruction will be used against the carrier in court. Sending one early can make the difference between a fully developed case and one missing key proof.
How long do I have to file a Texas trucking-accident lawsuit?
The general personal-injury statute of limitations in Texas is two years from the date of the crash. For wrongful death, the two-year clock generally runs from the date of death. Federal claims and claims against governmental defendants can have shorter notice periods. Because evidence is lost so quickly, the practical deadline to involve a lawyer is far shorter than two years.
Should I accept a quick settlement offer from the trucking company's insurer?
No — at least not until you understand the full extent of your injuries, future medical needs, and the carrier's exposure. Quick settlement offers in trucking cases almost always undervalue the claim. Once you sign a release, you cannot reopen the case if your injuries turn out to be more serious than they first appeared. Talk to a lawyer before accepting anything.
Related practice areas
Many serious injury cases overlap multiple practice areas. Here are a few related matters our firm handles regularly.
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